Game development length?

[PkmnTrainerElio]

How long do you think Game Freak spend developing the games and producing them? Like, how many years do you think it takes them to develop the games? We all know Red, Green and Blue began development back in 1990 and were released in 1996 - 1999. What about the other games, when do you think they started development?

 

[COOLTRAINER♂]

Masuda's posted on his blog about Black & White and X & Y.

We know Gold and Silver were originally begun after Red & Green were released as "Pocket Monsters 2" for a 1997 release before being revamped as Gameboy Color games. The Iwata Asks feature on Heart Gold & Soul Silver goes into more detail on the original games.

 

[PkmnTrainerElio]

Masuda's posted on his blog about Black & White and X & Y.

We know Gold and Silver were originally begun after Red & Green were released as "Pocket Monsters 2" for a 1997 release before being revamped as Gameboy Color games. The Iwata Asks feature on Heart Gold & Soul Silver goes into more detail on the original games.

Pokémon Black and White started production in 2006? JESUS CHRIST! I would have thought it was at least 2008/2009. So, Sun and Moon must have started development in 2011/2012...

 

[COOLTRAINER♂]

They probably begin working on their big games as they wrap up the previous ones. Certain positions like concept art and design need to be done before substantial graphics and scripting so people will get assigned to different projects depending on what stage they're at in production.

 

[Lunar]

In terms of Sun and Moon, the two year waiting period must mean something big is on the horizon for those games as we haven't seen a gap like that without a mainline Pokemon game in the modern day for a while now so they must have been developing since the end of X&Y in my opinion.